Apparatus for mining coal or the like



N E L vY U C U APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 25, 1959 Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED. S'I'Afres` PATENT OFFICE Otto Cuylen, Bochum, Germany, assigner to Gebr Eickhoff Maschinenfabrik u. Eisengiesserei,

Bochum, .Germany Application February 25, 1939, Serial No. 258,514 InuGermanyFebruary 28, 1938 .8 Claims.

This invention relates to mining `machinery and more particularly to machines especially adapted for mining coal from veins or beds'beneath the ground. Accordingly the invention will be hereinafter described with relation to `use although it is obviously capable of various other applications. f

One of the objects of the presentinvention is to provide a simple and practical construction which may be continuously operated in cutting and delivering coal from an underground vein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reliable and efcient machine Whiohwill easily and quickly cut a path adjacent to a previously out path.

A further object is to provide a machineof the above character with the parts so positioned and arranged as to provide an under cut, a vertical cut, and a continuous delivery to a conveyor or the like.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawing and in part hereinafter indicated in connection therewith bythe following analysis of this invention.

This invention accordingly consistsin the features of construction, combination of parts and in the unique relation of the members and inthe relative proportioning and disposition thereof, all as more completely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art to vfully comprehend the underlying features thereof that they may embody the same 'by the numerous modications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention, a drawing depicting a preferred form of the invention has been anneXed as part of this disclosure, and in such drawing, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all of the views, in which- Fig. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic elevational and partial sectional View of the complete apparatus in use; and i Fig. 2 is a similar plan View showing the general position and arrangement of the parts` in a mine.

Referring now to the drawingin detail, Illindicates a previously cut track orispace through the bed of coal indicated at II. l The floor of the mine upon which the apparatus travels isindicated at I2 in Fig. 1 While the roof of this ltrack or path is indicated at I3.

The apparatus comprises, inbrief, a `powerand cutting unit broadly designated `at I4 :provided with ya laterally extending undercutter lrwhich provides a horizontal undercut Iii. Adjacent to the undercutting apparatus I5 is an oscillating vertically moving front wall cutter I'I which is adapted to `move or oscillate in the general arc shown in Fig. 1. The cut coal fromboth cutters is then delivered to a delivery and elevating mechanism I8 which in turn transports `the cut coal to a Aconveyor 20.

Referring to these parts more in detail, the power unit I4 is adapted to be progressively moved in the general direction of the arrow 2l by any suitable means such as indicated by cable 22. Within this power unit I4 is a motor 23 `which will actuate a frame 24, causing the same to swing vertically about a pivot 25. This motor 23 drives, by meansof suitable gearing or chains 26, a shaft y2'I` having at its opposite ends crank disks 28which are connected by means of links 30 with `the `frame 24 at the point 3|. Other points of connection for one end of this link 30 such as 32 permit an adjustability of the arc through which the frame 24 swings. It is also possible to derive the movement of the crankshaft and of therotating front wall cutterfrom a main motor simultaneously actuating the undercut mechanism and the feed mechanism.

This same motor 23 drives through gearings such as a chain drivell33 the front Wall cutter Il which, as it swings substantially vertically through the are previously referred to in connection with Fig. 1, cuts along the line 34, and the coal as it falls down is in a position to be scraped up by the elevator mechanism I8 to be delivered to the conveyor 2d.

It Will be noted that the undercut mechanism I5 comprises an endless chain 35 or the like, having cutter bits 36, the same being driven by means of a gear 31.

The elevator mechanism shown at the left of Figs. 1 and 2 comprises generally a supporting skid 4l) for the forward edge of the triangular plate I8. This plate carries three sheaves 4I about which an endless chain 42 is adapted to pass. The chain is provided with a series of buckets or lifts 43 adapted to scoop up the'coal from the hinged plate 44 and to carry the saine up the trough 45 to a delivery outlet 43. These sheaves 4I are driven in any desired manner as by means of a motor 4'Ion the `skid lil for example.

Beneath theplate I8 extends from the sheave 4I a shaft Ell, the lower end of which carries an eccentric 5| supported in a bearing 52. This eccentric issurrounded by means of a collar 53 from which radially extends four hingedly congallery at frequent intervals, and this is usually c done by means of pit props or posts 56. In order to provide a continuous cutting operation, the entire mechanism shown in Fig. 2 is progressively moved towards the right and held in substantial alignment by means of a guide railor drag 5l engaging a series of the posts or supports 56 as shown in Fig. 2. When, however, al dis-lY charge chute 55 coacts or engages one of these props 55, as shown at the left of Fig. 2, its movement will be arrested relative to the continued movement of the apparatus thereby causing the four arms 55 to turn about the shaft 50 and bring the next adjacent outlet chute 55 into position to register with the end 45 of the channel or trough 45 at one end and over the conveyor 25 at its other end, all in a typical turnstile manner.

By reason of the eccentric mounting 5l and the hinged linkage 54 as shown, these discharge chutes 55 are progressively brought into aposition with respect to the axis about which the four chutes, constituting the turnstile formation, rotate.

The construction and operation of the mechanism herein described is clear from the above. However, it may be stated briefly that, as the entire apparatus is moved progressively towards the right under the action of the cable 22the undercut mechanism l5 is continuously driven to form the usual undercut to the vein. The cutter bits 36 deliver the coal or other material rearwardly into position to be scooped up by the hinged apron or plate 44. During all this time, however, the frame 24 is continuously oscillated in a vertical direction with the cutting instrumentalities carried thereby substantially in engagement with the side wall of the vein and also the front wall 34 to be cut. This material, with that delivered by the undercutting mechanism, moves relatively rearwardly and is scooped up by the lower inclined edge 44 of the elevator mechanism I8 and is swept up the channel 45 by means of the buckets 43 to the discharge chute 55 whence it is delivered to the conveyor 20 and carried out of the mine.

As previously explained, if and when a chute 55 engages one of the posts 56, the entire turnstile arrangement is rotated labout its axisand the next discharge chute is properly positioned with relation to the channel 45 and the conveyor 20, thus providing for a continuous cutting and loading operation.

The invention herein disclosed provides a simple and practical continuously operating construction well adapted to accomplish, among others, all of the objects and advantages herein set forth in a reliable and eicient manner.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore such adaptations should yto the cutting unit, a rotatable front wall cutter carried by said swinging frame behind said undercut apparatus and parallel and equal in length thereto, and means for elevating and discharging the material provided by both of said cutting apparatus.

2'. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, undercutting mechanism, front wall cutting mechanism, motive power for both of said mechanisms, a frame carrying the front wall cutting mechanism, means for oscillating the frame thereby toy move the cutter over the front wall, and means for adjusting the throw of said frame.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, undercuttin'g mechanism, front wall cutting mechanism, motive power for both of said mechanisms, a frame carrying the front wall cutting mechanism, means for oscillating the frame thereby to move the cutter over the front wall, means for adjusting the throw of said frame mechanism for elevating and delivering the cut material, and a conveyor to which the cut material is delivered.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a power and cutting unit adapted to continuously move forwardly, means for moving said power unit, an undercut mechanism carried thereby, a frontwall rotating cutter mechanism carried by a frame, said frame being adapted to oscillate about a horizontal axis behind and parallel to said undercut mechanism, an elevator mechanism adjacent the cutter mechanisms, and a delivery mechanism adjacent the elevator mechanism.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a power and cutting unit adapted to continuously move forwardly, means for moving said power and cutting unit, an undercut mechanism carried thereby, a front wall cutter mechanism associated therewith, means for oscillating said front wall cutter mechanism substantially vertically, an elevator mechanism adjacent the cutter mechanisms, and a delivery mechanism adjacent the elevator mechanism comprising a plurality of discharge chutes in turnstile arrangement.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a power and cutting unit adapted to continuously move forwardly, means for moving said power and cutting unit, an undercut mechanism carried thereby, a front wall cutter mechanism associated therewith, means for oscillating said front wall cutter mechanism substantially vertically, an elevator mechanism adjacent the cutter mechanisms, and a delivery mechanism adjacent the elevator mechanism, said delivery mechanism comprising a plurality of chutes adapted to be rotated on engagement with a mine prop or the like as the mechanism moves forwardly. l

` 7. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a power and cutting unit, means for moving said power and cutting unit continuously andv progressively forward, an undercut mechanism extending to one side of said power and cutting unit, a front Wall cutting mechanism rearwardly of said und-ercutting mechanism, means for moving said front wall mechanism in a generally vertical direction across the face of the front Wall, an elevator mechanism behind said cutter mechanisms comprising an endless chain and scraper flights, means for driving said endless chain, and a discharge chute mechanism associated with the upper end of said elevator, said discharge mechanism including a plurality of rotatably mounted discharge chutes.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a power and cutting unit, means for moving said power and cutting unit continuously and progressively forward, an undercut mechanism extending to one side of said power and cutting unit, a front Wall cutting mechanism rearwardly of said undercutting mechanism, means for moving said front wall mechanism in a `gernerally vertical direction across the face of the front wall, an elevator mechanism behind said cutter mechanism comprising an endless chain and scraper iiights, means for driving said endless chain, a discharge chute mechanism associated with the upper end of said elevator, said discharge mechanism including a plurality of rotatably mounted discharge chutes pivotally supported beneath the elevator mechanism and a conveyor to which one of said chutes is always in a position to conduct the material from the elevator to said conveyor as the apparatus moves.

OTTO CUYLEN. 

